Farmer dies after being trampled by herd of cows 'spooked' by a fire engine siren

A farmer has died from serious head and chest injuries after he was trampled by cows, which appear to have been scared by a fire engine.

Harold Lee, 75, was bringing up the rear of a herd of 100 dairy cows being led along a country lane, when they turned and bolted towards him.

His son Richard, 42, who was leading the cattle to be milked at their farm in Burtle, Somerset, had said that a fire engine had suddenly appeared with its sirens blaring.

He said the Friesian cows had become agitated by the noise and lights coming towards them and had stampeded towards his father, who had been riding a quad bike behind the herd.

Farmer Harold Lee died after he was trampled by his herd of Holstein Friesian cows, who became agitated by a fire engine siren

Avon and Somerset police confirmed they were investigating the possibility that the livestock had been startled by the fire engine's sirens.

Mr Lee, who is the fourth person to die in three months after being trampled by cows, was left in a critical condition after suffering head and chest injuries. He was airlifted to Royal United Hospital, Bath, after the incident before being transferred to Frenchay, Bristol.

After the incident last Tuesday, Mr Lee's son Andrew said: 'I was working on the farm and I had a phone call from my brother Richard saying a fire engine had frightened the cows and father was hurt.

'When I got there father was semi-conscious and trying to talk.

'It is very sad and we feel this should not have happened.'

Chief Fire Officer Lee Howell, of Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue, said today: 'The service were called to a road traffic accident near Burnham on Sea on the afternoon of August 11, and while en route to that call a fire appliance encountered cattle crossing the road near Burtle.

'A man was injured by stampeding cattle and Fire Fighters gave first aid at the scene prior to the arrival of the Ambulance Service.

'It is understood that this man has subsequently died and the sympathies of the Service are with his family and friends.

'The Fire Authority are working closely with the Police who are investigating this incident.

'As this matter is now under Police investigation it would not be appropriate to comment further.'

The tragedy is the fourth fatal trampling incident involving agitated cows this year - the previous three occurring in just four weeks.

In June, vet Liz Crowsley, 49, was walking her dogs along the Pennine Way, in West Yorkshire when she was charged by a herd and died.

It is thought the animals became alarmed by her dogs, although they were on leads, because they were protecting their calves.

In July, Anita Hinchey, 63, was walking with a friend in St Fagans, near Cardiff, when she fell among a herd. An inquest heard she was trying to put her dog back on its lead.

That month, Barry Pilgrim, 65, was also fatally attacked in Sheldon, Derbyshire. Police again feared the cows has become 'over-protective'.

Recently, Eifion Huws, vice-president of the Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW), warned that such attacks could increase if dogs remained off leads in the countryside.

Mr Huws, himself a dairy farmer on Anglesey, said: 'I have seen cows I have known for years turn on me immediately as soon as it has calved, it is rare, but it happens.